In Other Words » evdo

Connecticut, Land of a Thousand Dead Spots…

jason — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:24:17 +0000

I’ve lost count of how many trips I’ve taken on the Acela Express. 99% of the time, it’s been heading south to DC. But on those rare occasions that I take it to head north, it’s always incredibly frustrating.

The state of Connecticut seems to be the land of a thousand dead spots. I’m forever dropping calls, my laptop’s 3G connection doesn’t stay up for the whole trip either. Going south, the only spot I lose signal totally is the tunnel you pass through at Baltimore. Being underground, this is not unexpected.

But on a clear, sunny day, riding the rails through Connecticut, it is a big ball of suck.

Using NetworkManager with Pantech UM175 under Ubuntu Hardy

jason — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:33:54 +0000

So, wasn’t it cool last week when you got your UM175 working under Hardy? What’s not so cool? Since it’s not integrated with Network Manager, every time you launch Firefox, Pidgin or anything else that queries NetworkManager for a connection status, you get to go nowhere. There are guides out there to create scripts that go in /etc/chatscripts and /etc/ppp/peers to integrated with the stock NM that ships with Hardy, but unfortunately, those don’t register as valid Internet connections with NM, as shipped.

Enter the NetworkManager PPA. This is the development ground for what’s going to be included in Intrepid Ibex, aka Ubuntu 8.10. It only takes a few minutes to get it started.

1. Add the PPA repo to /etc/apt/sources.list:

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/network-manager/ubuntu hardy main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/network-manager/ubuntu hardy main

2. apt-get update and upgrade the packages, be sure to install the unauthenticated ones. You may find it easier to do this part with Administration > Update Manager, from the menu.

3. It will probably ask for a reboot when all is done. Don’t do it yet. You need to patch one file to make the UM175 work.

4. Open up /usr/share/hal/fdi/information/10freedesktop/10-modem.fdi

At line 175, add a couple of USB ids, specifically 0×3711 and 0×3714, so the line looks like:

5. Reboot, now you’re nearly done.

6. After login, right click on the Network Manager icon in the notification area. Edit Connections. Go to the Mobile Broadband tab, add a new connection.

7. I only filled in a name for the connection, used the following parameters:

Phone Number: #777
Username: @vzw3g.com (use your device’s phone # here)
Password: vzw
Check the “System Setting” box.

8. ???

9. Profit!

To connect, plug in the evdo device, click on the NM icon, select your 3G connection.

HOWTO: Verizon UM175 USB EVDO Card under Ubuntu Hardy

jason — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:17:41 +0000

EDIT: If you’re feeling just a bit adventurous, why not upgrade to NetworkManager 0.7 out of the PPA and then not only will your UM175 work, you’ll also be able to use apps that rely on NetworkManager’s connection status, like Pidgin! See this other post on that topic. The PPA version of NM 0.7 is essentially what’s going to be in Intrepid Ibex when it rolls next month.

Just today I traded in my old Verizon Wireless V740 ExpressCard for a shiny new UM175 USB EVDO device. Sure, both are Rev-A devices, but the new device gives me a bit more flexibility, and is nowhere near as huge as previous USB EVDO devices. I’ll spare you the shtick on the folding and rotating USB connector, oh wait.. The Windows XP software worked pretty much as you’d expect. Stay tuned for a similar guide featuring this device with Mac OS X.

Mind you, I only tried doing this on Ubuntu Hardy and the Desktop version at that. I’m sure it would work much the same on Kubuntu or Xubuntu, but you’d need to use a different application than I used (gnome-ppp).

Before you get started, be sure you’re up to date on updates. At the time this was written, the current -generic kernel for Hardy Desktop was 2.6.24-19, though I’m sure it will work much the same with other reasonably similar kernel versions. Also, install gnome-ppp (apt-get install gnome-ppp) before you get rolling. The last bit of information you’ll need before starting is the phone number of your device. For the sake of this guide, let’s assume your device’s phone number is 212-555-1212.

Step 1. Plug the device in. Ok, you’re done Step 1.

Step 2. Launch gnome-ppp, configure settings, other than the defaults:

Modem Tab
- Device: /dev/ttyACM0
- Type: USB Modem
- Speed: 460800
- Phone Line: Tone
- Volume: Off

Options Tab
- Minimize: checked
- Dock in Notification Area: checked

Click Close. Fill in the fields in the main Gnome PPP window:

Username: 2125551212@vzw3g.com
Password: vzw
Phone Number: #777

Step 3. Click Connect

Step 4. There is no step 4. You’re connected.

Congratulations, you’re online, EVDO style.